Storage system with access control system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a storage system ( 1 ) with a storage region ( 2, 3 ), in which storage material may be stored, with an access region ( 16 ), physically removed from the storage system, in which access to the storage material for deposition or withdrawal of storage material ( 4 ) can be achieved, and a transport means ( 11 ), by means of which the storage material can be transported between the access region ( 16 ) and storage region ( 2, 3 ). According to the invention, an unauthorised removal of storage material may be prevented, whereby an access control system is provided, by means of which access to the storage material support ( 6, 7 ) in the access region ( 16 ) is permitted or blocked depending on an access authorisation of the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a storage system comprising a storageregion, for storing storage articles in at least one storage location,an access region, which is at a separate location from the storageregion and is intended for access to the storage articles located in theaccess region, a conveying means, for transporting the storage articlesbetween the storage location and the access region, and a conveyingshaft, in which the conveying means are accommodated such that they canbe moved back and forth in a conveying direction and which is arrangedbetween the storage region and the access region, as seen in theconveying direction.

PRIOR ART

[0002] A storage system of the generic type is known, for example, fromDE 92 13 478U1. This document presents and describes a storage lift inwhich a computer-controlled charging and removal arrangement is guidedin a shaft arranged between two rack columns. The storage articles aremounted on storage-article carriers in the individual racks. Thecharging and removal arrangement conveys the storage articles from theirstorage locations in the individual racks to a charging and removalopening and back. The storage articles are stored or retrieved throughthe charging and removal opening.

[0003] During operation of such a storage system, it has provendisadvantageous that the storage articles can be removed, and in somecircumstances stolen, by anyone in the region of the charging andremoval openings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In view of the disadvantages described, the object of the presentinvention is thus to provide a storage system which has a storage regionand an access region, at a separate location from the storage region,and also a system for managing the same and in the case of which accessto at least one of the storage articles stored is limited.

[0005] According to the invention, this object is achieved by an accesscontrol system which is assigned to the access region and has a barrierwhich is designed as an essentially horizontal platform and, independence on a user's access authorization code, can be transferred, atleast in certain parts, from a blocking state, in which access to thestorage articles is blocked, into a release state, in which access tothe storage articles is released.

[0006] In the case of this solution, the access control system of thestorage system according to the invention only releases access to thoseof the storage articles to which a user can establish proof of accessauthorization by means of the access authorization code assigned tohim/her.

[0007] The barrier performs, according to the invention, a doublefunction as a horizontal platform and thus operational surface of thestorage system and as part of the access control system of the storagesystem. In the case of the solution according to the invention, thestorage articles are not, as in the case of the conventional storagesystems with separate access and storage regions, conveyed into anaccess region located above the platform. Rather, the access region isarranged beneath the platform. In the case of the storage system whichis known from the prior art, a storage region is usually located inplace of the access region.

[0008] In order to establish a user's access authorization to a storagearticle, each storage article is assigned a release code, which is thencompared, by the access control system, with the user's accessauthorization code. It is only when the comparison establishes that theuser can access the storage article that the access control systemreleases access to the storage article provided with the correspondingrelease code.

[0009] It is consequently possible, in the case of the solutionaccording to the invention, to restrict misuse of the storage articlesas a result of free access for all.

[0010] In the case of a fair number of storage systems or storage liftswith separate storage and access regions, the storage articles arestored on storage-article carriers, for example containers or trays, andtransported into the access region together with the storage-articlecarrier. For this purpose, the storage-article carriers may havecompartments in which various storage articles are stored separatelyfrom one another. If such a storage-carrier is transported into theaccess region, then it is possible, according to an advantageousconfiguration, for the storage system to be capable of releasing accessonly to those compartments or storage articles for which the user, inaccordance with the access authorization code, is authorized. Dependingon the arrangement of the storage articles or compartments on thestorage-article carrier, these individual subregions may be arrangedcontinuously or separately.

[0011] A solution for the access control system which is a particularlystraightforward design is obtained, then, if the barrier is arrangedbetween the storage articles and the user.

[0012] The barrier may also be designed, in particular, as a partition,cover or door, or as a combination of partitions, covers or doors, whichis/are closed in the blocking state and open in the release state.

[0013] In order to store storage articles of different sizes, it ispossible for the storage system, according to an advantageousconfiguration, to be provided with a size-detection means for detectingthe dimensions of the storage article. For example, such asize-detection means can detect and store the height of a storagearticle as it is stored. In dependence on the dimensions, the storagearticle is transferred into the access region at a correspondingdistance from the barrier. In the case of this configuration, theposition of the access region is thus dependent on the size of thestorage article to which access is to be released. In the case of thisconfiguration, collisions of the storage article with the barrier areavoided and there is better safeguarding against misuse since only smallgaps remain between the storage article and the barrier.

[0014] If use is made in the storage system of storage-article carriersin which always a plurality of storage articles, in some circumstanceswith different access authorizations in each case, are stored incompartments, then it is advantageous if, according to a furtherconfiguration, the barrier has a plurality of sub-barriers by means ofwhich in each case one part of the access region can be transferred, independence on the access authorization code, from the blocking stateinto the release state. One sub-barrier is preferably assigned onecompartment of a storage-article carrier located in an access positionin the access region.

[0015] The sub-barriers are advantageously dimensioned such that onesub-barrier or a combination of adjacent sub-barriers blocks preciselyone compartment of a storage-article carrier. Adapting the dimensions ofthe subregions of the barrier to the dimensions of the compartments ofthe storage-article carriers and/or to the dimensions of the storagearticles releases access to precisely that storage article to whichaccess is authorized, without there being any possibility of access tocompartments to which access is not authorized.

[0016] The sub-barriers may advantageously be designed as flaps whichare retained in a pivotable or displaceable manner on the barrier.

[0017] In order to render unauthorized access to the storage systemgenerally more difficult, all the openings in the storage system throughwhich access is possible to the interior of the storage system should beclosed. Consequently, it should be ensured that, with the barrierreleased, it is not possible to reach into the interior of the storagesystem. It should only be possible to access the storage articlereleased. This is achieved, for example, by barriers which terminateflush with the storage-article carrier in the first access position, andonly form small gaps, if any at all.

[0018] Alongside the first access region which has just been described,it is possible for the storage system, in a further advantageousconfiguration, to have a further, second access region for the storagearticles. This second access region differs in functional terms from thefirst access region in that it allows access to the storage articles ina second access position essentially without action of the accesscontrol system. In spatial terms, the second access region may differ byway of its position being different from the first access region: in thesecond access region, the storage articles are arranged between thebarrier and the user, with the result that the user has essentially freeaccess to the storage articles. Use of the second access region makes itpossible to store and retrieve bulky storage articles which, on accountof their dimensions, would not fit through the barrier or thesub-barriers.

[0019] In the case of a configuration with a second access region, anadvantageous development provides an inner barrier, which is assigned tothe second access region and is arranged between the second accessregion and the storage region. This barrier is opened and closed fortransportation of the storage articles from the storage region into thesecond access region as soon as the storage articles are located in thesecond access position. This barrier blocks an introduction openingthrough which the storage articles are introduced into the second accessregion by the conveying means.

[0020] The second barrier may be formed by the barrier for the firstaccess region, with the result that the barrier performs a doublefunction in respect of the two access regions. As an alternative, it isalso possible to provide, in addition to the barrier of the firstblocking region, a second barrier, which can be actuated independentlyof the first barrier.

[0021] In a further configuration, it is possible to provide an outerbarrier, which is assigned to the second access region and is arrangedbetween the second access region and the user. By virtue of the outerbarrier, access to the interior of the storage system is blocked whenthe inner barrier is open.

[0022] In a further advantageous configuration, the second access regionmay be operated as a kind of air lock, with the result that, whenstorage articles are transported between the second access region andthe storage region, there is no access at any time to the interior ofthe storage system. The inner barrier here closes the introductionopening in the storage region while the outer barrier is open.

[0023] If, in the case of this configuration, for example astorage-article carrier is transported from the storage region into theaccess region by the conveying means, then first of all the outerbarrier is closed and then the inner barrier is opened, with the resultthat the storage-article carrier can be transported through theintroduction opening into the access region. If the storage-articlecarrier is located in the access region, the inner barrier is closed andthen the outer barrier is opened. In this position, access to thestorage-article carrier is then possible, but access to thestorage-region interior is blocked by the inner barrier.

[0024] For storing storage articles, this operation can be carried outin correspondingly reverse order if the storage article which is to bestored has been set down in the access region. In a further advantageousconfiguration, it is also possible for the access control system toblock access to the storage articles prior to the conveying meansaccessing the storage articles in the storage region or in the accessregion. If, for example, it is established that a user is not authorizedto remove all the storage articles on a storage-article carrier, then inthe case of this configuration the storage system will merely signal theinadequate access authorization to the user, but will not remove thestorage articles from the access region or the storage region.

[0025] In an alternative, space-saving configuration of the storagesystem, in the case of which the first and the second access regionscoincide in spatial terms and merely differ in functional terms, inrespect of the release of the access region, the barrier of the firstaccess region may serve, at the same time, as outer barrier of thesecond access region. In the case of this configuration, the entirebarrier of the first access region can be transferred into the releasestate in order to release the storage articles.

[0026] The construction and the functioning of the invention isexplained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to exemplaryembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In the drawings:

[0028]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment ofa storage system according to the invention;

[0029]FIG. 2 shows the storage system from FIG. 1 with a storage-articlecarrier during the removal of storage articles;

[0030]FIG. 3 shows the storage system from FIG. 1 with a storage-articlecarrier as storage articles are being stored;

[0031]FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a storage systemwith a second access region and an air-lock-type system;

[0032]FIG. 5 shoves the storage system from FIG. 4 during the removal ofstorage articles from the second access position; and

[0033]FIG. 6 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the storage system.

METHODS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

[0034] In the first instance, the construction and functioning of thestorage system 1 according to the invention will be described withreference to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the side walls which are directed towardthe observer have been left out in order to give a view into theinterior of the storage system 1.

[0035] The storage system 1 has two shaft-like storage regions 2, 3 inthe form of rack columns in which storage articles 4 are stored. Thereare any desired number of storage regions in the storage system. In FIG.1, the storage regions 2, 3 in the form of a rack column are constructedwith stationary storage locations 5 located one above the other in thevertical direction. The storage articles 4 are retained in therespective storage locations 5 of the storage regions 2, 3 bystorage-article carriers 6, 7, which are accommodated in correspondingstorage frameworks 8. For this purpose, the storage framework 8 formsrail-like retaining means for the storage-article carriers 6, 7 at therespective storage locations 5.

[0036] The storage-article carriers 6, 7 may be of differentconfigurations. For example, the storage-article carriers 6 may beprovided with compartments 9 in which various storage articles arestored in sorted form in each case. The size and arrangement of thecompartments 9 here may differ in dependence on the storage articlesstored. Some of the storage-article carriers 6, 7 may also be configuredas trays 7, the shape of which corresponds essentially to a platform ora shelf. Storage articles 4 can be set down directly, or instorage-article carriers 6, on the trays 7.

[0037] Arranged between the storage regions 2, 3 is a conveying shaft 10in which a conveying means 11 moves. In the case of the exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 1, the storage frameworks 8 which are directed towardthe conveying shaft in each case serve, at the same time, as guides forthe conveying means 11. The conveying means 11 is thus guided along thestorage locations 5—this being essentially upward and downward in thevertical direction in FIG. 1.

[0038] The conveying means 11 is equipped with a gripping system (whichcannot be seen in FIG. 1), as is known, for example, from the prior art.The conveying means interacts with a storage-article carrier 6, 7 ineach case and moves the storage-article carriers from the respectivestorage location 5 into the conveying shaft 10 and vice versa. Thegripping means may be configured, for example, as a circulating fingeron the conveying means, which engages in a corresponding finger mount onthe storage articles. It is also possible for hydraulically actuatedtelescopic arms to serve as gripping means. The conveying means 11together with the gripping system is controlled automatically by acontrol device (not illustrated).

[0039]FIG. 1 shows the storage system 1 in a state in which preciselyone storage-article carrier 12 is being drawn out of the associatedstorage location 13 into the conveying shaft 10 by the conveying means11. As can be gathered in FIG. 1, the compartments 14 of thestorage-article carrier 12 are larger and deeper than those of thestorage-article carriers 6, with the result that larger storage articlescan be stored in the compartments 14. In order for it to be possible tomanage storage articles 4 and storage-article carriers 6, 7, 12 withdifferent sizes, the storage system 1 is equipped with a size-detectionmeans (not shown) which detects at least the height and/or otherdimensions of the storage articles 4 and/or of the storage-articlecarriers 6, 7, 12.

[0040] The conveying means 11 transports storage articles 4 orstorage-article carriers 6, 7 between the respective storage locations 5in the storage regions 2, 3 and an access position 15 in an accessregion 16, which is at a separate location from the storage region 2, 3and is illustrated schematically by dotted lines in FIG. 1. In theaccess region 16, it is possible to access the storage articles 4 and/orthe storage-article carriers 6, 7 from outside the storage system 1,i.e. to store and retrieve storage articles and storage-articlecarriers. Access to the storage articles 4 in the access region 16 takesplace through the access opening 17 in an access direction 18.

[0041] An access control system 19, which is assigned to the accessregion 16, releases or blocks access to the storage articles in theaccess region 16 in a controlled manner. For this purpose, the accesscontrol system has a barrier 20 which is arranged above the accessregion 16, that is to say between a user and the access region 16. Thebarrier 20 serves, at the same time, as a platform of the storage systemand prevents unauthorized access to the storage articles 4 in the accessregion 16. In contrast to conventional storage systems, in the case ofthe exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the access region 16 with the accessposition 15 for the storage articles is located beneath the platform 20.

[0042] As it is being stored, the height of the storage article 4 and/orthe storage-article carrier 6, 7 is established and stored by thesize-detection means. During retrieval, this information is called upagain and the storage article 4 and/or the storage-article carrier 6, 7is transferred by the conveying means 11 to a corresponding distancebeneath the barrier 20, into the access position 15 of the access region16.

[0043] The construction and the functioning of the access control system19 and of the barrier 20 are explained in more detail hereinbelow:

[0044] In addition to the barrier 20, the access control system 19 has acontrol module 21 with an input unit 22, by means of which a user entersan access authorization code intended for him/her. A user here, in thecase of manual access, is understood as being a person who is accessingthe storage articles 4 and, in the case of automatic removal systems, asbeing the respective accessing system, for example a removal robot.

[0045] The input unit 22 may be configured, for example, as a cardreader for chip cards or magnetic cards, as a keyboard, scanner or as acontactless transponder system.

[0046] The access authorization code allows the storage system 1 toestablish, via an automatic inventory list which contains in each casethe storage location 5 and a release code of the storage articlesstored, whether the user is authorized access in each case. For thispurpose, the release code which is assigned to the storage articles 3and the access authorization code which is assigned to the user arecompared with one another by the access control system 19. In dependenceon the result of this comparison, the access control system 19 willtransfer the barrier 20, at least in certain parts, from a blockingstate, in which, on account of inadequate access authorization, it isnot possible to access the storage articles, into a release state, inwhich, on account of access authorization being given to the user, it ispossible to access the storage articles in the access region 16.

[0047] The access authorization and release codes may be staggeredhierarchically, with the result that an access authorization withhigh-level access authorization allows access to the storage articles 4or storage-article carriers 6, 5 which are provided with a release codeof lower-level authorization. In the case of large storage systems orcomplex storage tasks, it is also possible for a number of accesshierarchies to be implemented one beside the other.

[0048] In the case of storage-article carriers 6 accommodating aplurality of storage articles, it is possible, in dependence on theaccess authorization code, for the access control system 19 to limitaccess to just some of the storage articles 4 in the storage-articlecarrier 6 when the storage-article carrier 6 is located in the accessposition 15.

[0049] The release of just some storage articles in a storage-articlecarrier 6 in the access region 16 is described in more detailhereinbelow.

[0050] In the access position 15 of the access region 16, thestorage-article carrier 6 is covered at least in certain parts, and inFIG. 2 completely, by the barrier 20 of the access control system 19,with the result that it is not possible for storage articles 4 to befreely stored and retrieved by bypassing the access control system 19.

[0051] In order to allow access just to individual parts of thestorage-article carrier 6, the barrier 20 is subdivided intosub-barriers 23. Each sub-barrier 23 is configured as a separatelyactivatable covering element which, in dependence on the accessauthorization code of the user and on the release code of the storagearticle, releases or blocks access to the region located therebeneathindependently of other sub-barriers. The sub-barriers 23 of the barrier20 form an area which, altogether, covers one side of the access region.The dimensions of the area correspond approximately to the dimensions ofa storage-article carrier. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, thesub-barriers 23 are configured as flap-like covers which are arrangedone beside the other in a number of parallel rows and are separated fromone another by crosspieces, in which the pivot bearings of the coversare accommodated.

[0052]FIG. 2 illustrates how two sub-barriers 24 a, 24 b are opened. Thesub-barrier 24 a is illustrated in the fully swung-open state, foraccess to a storage article 25, and the sub-barrier 24 b is illustratedin the partially swung-open state. The sub-barriers are each assigned tothe compartments 9 of a storage-article carrier and arranged such thatthey cover over, to the fullest possible extent, the compartments 9 of astorage-article carrier in the access position.

[0053] The dimensions of the compartments 9 and of the region covered byan individual sub-barrier 23 are coordinated with one another, inparticular, such that the act of opening a sub-barrier 23 or acombination of adjacent sub-barriers 23 allows access precisely to onecompartment 9 in each case or precisely to a combination of adjacentcompartments 9 with the same release code in each case. Thisconfiguration prevents the situation where, when a sub-barrier 23 isopened, it is possible to access compartments for which the user has noaccess authorization, but which would otherwise project, in part, intothe region released by the sub-barrier 23. The size of a sub-barrier 23thus corresponds to the size of a compartment 9 or to a whole-numberedmultiple of this size.

[0054]FIG. 3 illustrates the storage system 1 and the access controlsystem in a state in which, on account of an access authorization codewhich is different from FIG. 2, the adjacent sub-barriers 26, 27 havebeen released. The open sub-barriers 26, 27 give free access to thestorage article 28. In contrast to FIG. 2, on account of a differentaccess authorization signal, the sub-barrier 24 is blocked in FIG. 3since, in the case of the operation illustrated in FIG. 3, the user doesnot have authorization to access the storage article 25 covered by thesub-barrier 23.

[0055] As can be gathered in FIG. 3, the storage article 28 which hasjust been removed is larger than the storage article 25 from FIG. 2.Accordingly, the two adjacent covers 26 and 27 have to be released foraccess to the storage article 28. In order to prevent access to theadjacent compartments in the storage-article carrier 6 in the accessposition 15, the size of the region released by the sub-barriers 26, 27corresponds precisely to the size of the compartment in which thestorage article 28 is accommodated.

[0056] The access control system 19 can be further secured againstmanipulation from the outside by the smallest possible gap being presentbetween the compartments 9 and the barrier 20 this gap preventing theremoval of storage articles or the manipulation of the barrier throughthe gap.

[0057]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of thestorage system. In the case of FIGS. 4 and 5, elements of which theconstruction and functioning correspond to the elements of the exemplaryembodiment from FIGS. 1 to 3 are provided with the same designations.

[0058] In addition to the barrier 20, the exemplary embodiment of FIGS.4 and 5 is provided with an outer barrier 29 a and an inner barrier 29 band a second access region 30. The second access region 30 isillustrated by dots in FIGS. 4 and 5. The barriers 29 a, 29 b interactin the manner of an air-lock-type system and are assigned to the secondaccess region 30. The second access region 30 is located above thebarrier 20 and thus allows access to the storage articles without theaction of the access control system.

[0059] The front or outer barrier 29 a is configured as a door which canbe displaced from top to bottom, transversely to the access direction18, and essentially in the plane of the access opening 17. The innerbarrier 29 b is arranged on that side of the access region 15 which isdirected towards the storage regions 2, 3, and is likewise configured asa sliding door. The barrier 29 b blocks an introduction opening 31,through which storage articles 4 are transported above the accesscontrol system 19, by the conveying means 11, into a second accessposition 32 in the second access region 30.

[0060] The second access region 30 can be used for chargingstorage-article carriers with storage articles by a user with high-levelaccess authorization or for storing and retrieving bulky storagearticles which do not fit through the barrier 20 of the first accessregion 16.

[0061] The operation of retrieving a single bulky article 33 with theaid of the air-lock-type system 29 a, 29 b, will now be described withreference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0062] The single bulky article 33 on the tray 7 is moved from thestorage location, by the conveying means 8, into the second accessregion 16 above the barrier 20.

[0063] In order to prevent unauthorized access to the interior of thestorage system through the introduction opening 31 during transfer ofthe single article 33 into the second access region 30, in the firstinstance the outer barrier 29 a is moved downward and the access opening17 is closed. It is only then that the inner barrier 29 b is movedupward in order to release the introduction opening 31, through whichthe single article 33 is moved by the conveying means 11 into the secondaccess position 32 within the access region 16.

[0064] In order for the single article 33 to be retained securely in thesecond access position 32 above the barrier 20, corresponding retainingarrangements, for example rails, protrusions or catches, may be providedin the access region 16. The barrier 19 serves as a bearing means onwhich the single article 33 is set down, with or without a tray 7.

[0065] As soon as the single article 33 has reached the second accessposition, the inner barrier 29 b is displaced downward and theintroduction opening 31 is closed. The outer barrier 29 a as then openedin order to release access to the single article 33.

[0066] Following removal of the single article 33, the operation iscarried out in reverse order and the empty tray 7 is transferred onceagain into the storage region 2, 3 assigned to it: the outer barrier 29a closes the access opening 17, whereupon the inner barrier 29 breleases the introduction opening 31; the conveying means 11 then drawsthe tray 7 into the conveying shaft 10 and sets down the empty tray 7 inthe corresponding storage region 2, 3.

[0067] During charging of the storage system 1 with a single bulkyarticle 33, the procedure takes place precisely in the reverse order:the empty tray 7 is moved into the access region 16 with the innerbarrier 29 b open, whereupon the inner barrier 29 b is blocked, for thepurpose of closing the introduction opening 31, and the outer barrier 29a is moved upward, for the purpose of opening the access opening 17. Thestorage article 33 is then positioned on the empty tray 7, the outerbarrier 29 a is displaced downward and the inner barrier 29 b is thendisplaced upward. With the outer barrier 29 a closed, the storagearticle 33 is then transported into the conveying shaft 10 by theconveying means 11 and set down in a storage region 2, 3.

[0068] The operation which has been described above for single bulkyarticles 33 can also be carried out for a plurality of storage articleswhich are stored in the storage-article carrier 6. This is describedbriefly hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 6.

[0069]FIG. 6 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the storage system.In FIG. 6, elements of which the construction and functioning correspondto the elements of the abovedescribed exemplary embodiments are providedwith the same designations.

[0070] In contrast to the exemplary embodiments above, the accesscontrol system 19 of FIG. 6 is designed as a retrofittable constructionkit which has been installed in an existing, conventional storage system1. For this purpose, fastening means (not shown) are provided on thebarrier and cannot be released from the outside following installation,this preventing improper removal of the access control system 19 and/orof the barrier 20.

[0071] Furthermore, in contrast to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 4and 5, the storage system 1 of FIG. 6, rather than having an additionalinner barrier 29 b, merely has an outer barrier 29 a. In this exemplaryembodiment, the inner barrier 29 b is replaced by a fixed wall 34, whichis located opposite the access opening 17 of the access region 30. Inthe case of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, the barrier 20 servessimultaneously as a barrier for the first access region 16 and as aninner barrier for the second access region. In this case, the barrier 20closes the introduction opening for the second access region as storagearticles are transferred into the second access region, and forms theair-lock-type region together with the outer barrier 29 a.

[0072] In order for the storage-article carrier 6 to be transferred outof the storage region into the position shown in FIG. 6 and back again,the barriers 20 and 29 a interact like the barriers 29 a and 29 b.

1. A storage system (1) comprising a storage region (2, 3), for storingstorage articles (4) in at least one storage location (5), an accessregion (16), which is at a separate location from the storage region (2,3) and is intended for access to the storage articles located in theaccess region, a conveying means (11), for transporting the storagearticles between the storage location and the access region, and aconveying shaft (10), in which the conveying means (11) is accommodatedsuch that it can be moved back and forth in a conveying direction andwhich is arranged between the storage region and the access region, asseen in the conveying direction, characterized by an access controlsystem 19) which is assigned to the access region and has a barrier (20)which is designed as an essentially horizontal platform and, independence on a user's access authorization code, can be transferred, atleast in certain parts, from a blocking state, in which access to thestorage articles is blocked, into a release state, in which access tothe storage articles is released.
 2. The storage system (1) as claimedin claim 1, characterized in that the barrier (20) is arranged betweenthe user and storage articles (4).
 3. The storage system (1) as claimedin claim 1, characterized in that the barrier (20), for release of theaccess region (16), is retained in a moveable manner on the storagesystem (1).
 4. The storage system (1) as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the barrier (20) has a plurality of sub-barriers(23) which can each be transferred, in dependence on the accessauthorization code, from a release state into a blocking state and bymeans of which, in the blocking state, in each case part of the accessregion (16) is blocked.
 5. The storage system (1) as claimed in claim 4,characterized in that one said sub-barrier (23) is assigned in each caseto one compartment (9) of a storage article carrier (6) in the accessregion (16).
 6. The storage system (1) as claimed in claim 4 having atleast one storage article carrier (6) provided with at least onecompartment (9), characterized in that the size of the compartment (9)corresponds to the size of the subregion closed by one said sub-barrier(23) or to a whole-numbered multiple of this size.
 7. The storage system(1) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the sub-barriers (23)are of essentially flap-like design.
 8. The storage system (1) asclaimed in claim 1, characterized in that the storage system (1) has asecond access region (30), into which the storage articles (4) can beconveyed by the conveying means (11) during operation.
 9. The storagesystem (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the storagearticles (4) are retained in the second access region 30 essentiallywithout the action of the access control system (19).
 10. The storagesystem (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the storagearticles (4) in the second access region (30) are retained between thebarrier (20) and the user.
 11. The storage system (1) as claimed inclaim 8, characterized in that the barrier (20) is arranged between afirst access position (15) and a second access position (32).
 12. Thestorage system (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that thestorage system has an inner barrier (29 b), which is arranged betweenthe second access region (30) and the storage region.
 13. The storagesystem (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the storagesystem (1) has an outer barrier (29 a), which is arranged between theuser and the second access region (30).
 14. The storage system (1) asclaimed in claim 1, characterized in that the storage system (1) has asize-detection means which can detect the size of the storage articles(4), and in that the storage articles (4) in the access region (16) arearranged in a size-dependent access position (15).
 15. The storagesystem (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the storagelocations (5) are arranged in a stationary manner in the storage region.16. The storage system (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in thatthe storage region (2, 3) is formed by mutually opposite rack columns,between which the conveying shaft (10) is arranged.
 17. An accesscontrol system (19) for installing in a storage system (1), having astoring region (2, 3), for storing storage articles (4) in at least onestorage location (5), having an access region (16), which is at aseparate location from the storage region (2, 3) and is intended foraccess to the storage articles (4) located in the access region, andhaving a conveying means (11), for transporting the storage articles (4)between the storage location (5) and the access position (15, 32), theaccess control system (19), in the installed state, being arrangedbetween a user and the storage articles (4) in the access region andhaving a barrier (20) which can be transferred from a blocking state, inwhich access to the storage articles (4) is is blocked, into a releasestate, in which access to the storage articles (4) is released.
 18. Thestorage system (1) as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that thestorage articles (4) in the second access region (30) are retainedbetween the brrier (20) and the user.
 19. The storage system (1) asclaimed in claim 9, characterized in that the barrier (20) is arrangedbetween a first access position (15) and a second access position (32).20. The storage system (1) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in thatthe storage system (1) has an outer barrier (29 a), which is arrangedbetween the user and the second access region (30).